Share This Story!

Earnest: Republicans 'have a rap sheet' in obstruction

WASHINGTON -- The House of Representatives moved Tuesday to advance -- albeit temporarily -- one of President Obama's So are we seeing a new world of bipartisan cooperation? While begrudgingly commending

Earnest: Republicans 'have a rap sheet' in obstruction

White House press secretary Josh Earnest speaks during his daily news briefing at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, July 15, 2014.(Photo: Jacquelyn Martin, Associated Press)

WASHINGTON -- The House of Representatives moved Tuesday to advance a fix -- albeit a temporary one -- to one of President Obama's top priorities: The Highway Trust Fund.

So are we seeing a new world of cooperation between the White House and Congress?

Not exactly.

At a press briefing earlier in the day, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest responded by:

• Begrudgingly commending House Republicans for acting. "I'm willing to give credit where it's due and it appears that in this limited case, in terms of this short-term extension of the Highway Trust Fund, Republicans have changed course and are working in a common-sense way to, at least in the short term, extend the Highway Trust Fund," he said. "That's good news."

• Suggesting that Obama deserved credit. "Maybe the presidential rhetoric is having an effect," he said.

• And criticizing Republicans for continuing to obstruct other Obama priorities, like raising the minimum wage. "At the risk of sounding like a character on a police drama, Republicans have a rap sheet when it comes to blocking common sense proposals that would benefit middle-class families," Earnest said.

Earnest said Obama would continue to campaign for a long-term fix to the nation's infrastructure needs. The president is scheduled to visit the I-495 bridge in Wilmington, Del., to announce a new initiative to fund infrastructure fixes.